{"id":16701,"date":"2025-10-01T06:03:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T06:03:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/01\/grey-days-tired-minds-the-hidden-health-toll-of-indias-cloudiest-skies-lifestyle-news\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T06:03:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T06:03:21","slug":"grey-days-tired-minds-the-hidden-health-toll-of-indias-cloudiest-skies-lifestyle-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/01\/grey-days-tired-minds-the-hidden-health-toll-of-indias-cloudiest-skies-lifestyle-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Grey Days, Tired Minds: The Hidden Health Toll Of India\u2019s Cloudiest Skies | Lifestyle News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A string of cloudy days may look harmless, but it robs the body of natural vitamin D and chips away mental health. What does this mean for Indians living under permanent drizzle?<\/h2>\n
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When skies stay grey, the body\u2019s internal clock becomes confused, leading to sluggishness, poor sleep, and in some cases, seasonal affective disorder. (Image: Representative)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

For weeks now, Bengaluru has been waking up to the same sky: grey, heavy with clouds, and stingy with sunlight. Pune and Shillong have seen similar stretches of dreary weather. This isn\u2019t unusual for a monsoon season, but what makes 2025 remarkable is the sheer persistence of cloud cover.<\/p>\n

Meteorological reports show Bengaluru clocking over 65 percent of days since June with dense cloudiness, Pune around 60 percent, and Shillong nearly 80 percent. The city that was once called the \u201cGarden City” for its balance of rain and sun has, in effect, become a \u201cNo-Sun City.”<\/p>\n

While locals sigh about laundry that won\u2019t dry and selfies without golden-hour light, health experts warn of subtler consequences. A string of cloudy days may look harmless, but it robs the body of natural vitamin D and chips away at mental health. What does this really mean for urban Indians living under permanent drizzle?<\/p>\n

Vitamin D: The Sunshine Nutrient That\u2019s Missing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vitamin D is sometimes called the \u201csunshine vitamin” because the skin produces it when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. In India, sunlight is considered abundant, so vitamin D deficiency has long been dismissed as a problem of colder countries.<\/p>\n

Yet, multiple studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research and AIIMS have found that nearly 70 to 80 percent of urban Indians are already vitamin D deficient. This is due to indoor lifestyles, pollution blocking UVB, and limited outdoor activity.<\/p>\n

Now add extended cloud cover to the mix. Thick monsoon clouds filter out most UVB rays, cutting skin\u2019s ability to produce vitamin D even when you step outside. In cities like Bengaluru, the usual 20\u201330 minutes of daily sun exposure may drop to nearly zero effective UVB absorption for weeks at a time. That means bones, muscles, and immunity take a silent hit.<\/p>\n

Doctors point out that vitamin D deficiency does not cause immediate illness but manifests in fatigue, weakened bones, muscle pain, frequent colds, and long-term risks like osteoporosis. For children, chronic deficiency can impact growth, and for older adults, it raises fracture risks.<\/p>\n

Mood Under Clouds: The Psychology of Grey Skies<\/strong><\/p>\n

The lack of sunlight is not just a biological problem. Sunlight plays a direct role in regulating serotonin and melatonin, the brain\u2019s mood and sleep chemicals. When skies stay grey, the body\u2019s internal clock becomes confused, leading to sluggishness, poor sleep, and in some cases, seasonal affective disorder (SAD).<\/p>\n

While SAD is more commonly studied in northern Europe and North America, Indian psychiatrists are beginning to observe milder versions in places like Shillong and Bengaluru.<\/p>\n

Patients report irritability, oversleeping, craving carbohydrate-heavy foods, and a sense of \u201cmental fog.” In Pune, counselors say college students have been reporting dips in concentration and motivation during the extended cloudy stretch.<\/p>\n

The psychology is simple: sunlight cues the brain to feel awake and alert. Without it, people feel like their day never really begins. Combined with traffic, work pressure, and city noise, cloudy weather can make cities feel claustrophobic and emotionally draining.<\/p>\n

Why Are These Cities Cloudier Than Before?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bengaluru\u2019s cloudy spell is linked to both the southwest and northeast monsoon interactions. Weather scientists note that in recent years, climate change has intensified cloud formation and extended rainy seasons across peninsular India. Increased moisture from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, combined with heat islands created by expanding cities, contribute to thicker cloud bands.<\/p>\n

Shillong\u2019s geography, perched in the Meghalaya hills and known for Cherrapunji\u2019s rain records, naturally lends itself to long periods of cloudiness. But local weather data suggests 2025 has broken past averages, with cloud cover stretching almost continuously for months. Pune, situated on the leeward side of the Western Ghats, is usually drier than coastal cities, but this year has seen unseasonal western disturbances adding to the gloom.<\/p>\n

Coping With the Cloud Cover: Small Solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Doctors in Bengaluru and Pune recommend a mix of lifestyle and diet adjustments to balance the deficit of sunshine.<\/p>\n